Greenpeace attacks Morocco-UK power plan

Greenpeace have raised massive concerns over a new green energy project, warning that it carries unmistakable “neocolonial dynamics”.

According to an article by Recharge news, the “xlinks project” hopes to build 4,000km of new underwater cables to transport renewable energy from the Sahara desert to the UK. The project has backing from multiple Uk-based energy companies.

In a report outlining its concerns, Greenpeace argued that though these projects like these may appear mutually beneficial, they often end up perpetuating “unfair resource exploitation”. The group also pointed out that such initiatives typically “contributing little to local economies” and instead often result it the destructions of many local people’s livelihoods.

Greenpeace contends that the global search for alternative and renewable energy sources has led to a new form of exploitation, which it calls “green colonialism”. The group claims that the “plunder and dispossession”-themes reminiscent of the colonial era-are being repeated under the guise of renewable energy expansion.

As a alternative, Greenpeace has called for sweeping reforms in global trade and commerce in an effort to dismantle “neocolonial economic structures” and address longstanding imbalances of power.

Nevertheless despite the concerns from groups like Greenpeace ,Morocco seems determined in advancing its energy projects, and expand energy exports to Europe. The country has ambitious plans to supply around “8%” of the UK’s electricity  by 2030.

This vision is also shared by the UK government, which has designated the Xlinks plan a “nationally significant project” and given its full support for it.

Recharge news